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Meet Carolyn Filippi, Master Gardener Volunteer

With a new cohort of Master Gardener Volunteers ready to begin, we’d like to introduce them (AND YOU!) to the group of MGVs who have sustained this program for the last several years. Meet Carolyn Filippi!

What was your path to gardening?

I grew up in a mid-sized city with virtually no understanding of growing plants. In my high school years my mother had a small garden with tomatoes and peppers each summer but I paid little attention except to pick the fruit. In the early ‘70s I moved from the city to the country to get “back to the land” like many others of my generation. I began farming immediately to provide as much of our food as possible. I remember standing in the garden that first spring holding Rodales’ Organic Gardening book, hoe in hand, reading about how to plant potatoes. I used that book a LOT that first season!

Carolyn preserves tomatoes

What benefits do you gain from gardening?

There are so many benefits! I love working outdoors. Gardening is great exercise, not just physically but mentally. It’s stimulating to brainstorm and plan new projects, then execute those ideas and solve all the issues that invariably arise throughout the growing season. The unique nature of each season and the sheer number of plants and living creatures in the ecosystem means there’s an endless opportunity for learning.  

Gardening also provides a time to be present and contemplative. It’s an opportunity to stop and smell the roses- and then check them for insects, new buds, adequate water, etc.! The garden brings me peace. And the icing on the cake is enjoying the increased wildlife, especially the birds and butterflies. 

Why did you want to become a Master Gardener Volunteer?

I was looking for a new way to connect with my community. By becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer I could help others learn to garden or find answers to perplexing problems and I was eager to learn from the experience of other volunteers.     Read more Meet Carolyn Filippi, Master Gardener Volunteer

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Growing Local Farmers Markets

When I first started as GardenShare’s Farmers Market Manager, I was initially surprised it could be a full-time job, but after just one season, I can certainly say that there is a lot more that goes into running a market than one might realize! Prior to 2022 each farmers market in St. Lawrence County was managed independently from one another, but in 2022 GardenShare took on a new role that provided shared management services to the Canton, Gouverneur and Potsdam markets. I was excited to take on the challenge of developing the new program!

GardenShare provided direct management and advisory support, which created stability between a complex network of vendors, nonprofits and community partners. In addition to the dozens of vendors, there’s a lot of behind the scenes planning and collaboration involved with each market, including advisory boards, property owners, and voting market memberships.

Two people stand under tent behind display of diverse vegetables at market
The Hargraves of Brandy View Farms with their abundant array of vegetables at the Potsdam Farmers Market.

St. Lawrence County is rich with extensive resources, and at the markets you can find an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables along with local goods and crafts, with something new to discover every month. Partnerships also contributed to the success and diversity week to week, which enhanced the customer’s experience and created a community destination for different types of shoppers. Whether it was an activity for the kiddos, a free fitness class, or musical entertainment, there were extra events to enjoy throughout the season. It was very rewarding to see members of the community explore the market for their first time, and watch vendors expand their operations as the markets grew and evolved each month. There was certainly a buzz surrounding the Gouverneur Farmers Market, as customer traffic more than tripled from June to September. Vendors quickly adjusted to keep up with the higher demand and increased the quantity of products they brought in for sale.

Group of people standing outside in town center during the fall.
Gouverneur Farmers Market vendors on a sunny fall day in the 2022 season.

Between the three markets, there were 57 vendors and 33 nonprofits that showcased their items and services this year, with 13 vendors testing out other markets for their first time. Vendors who participated in more than one market, as a guest or applying for full-membership, expressed that having one contact was easier for their onboarding process, and communication was more efficient for their business practices.

Read more Growing Local Farmers Markets

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Meet Ken Kogut, Master Gardener Volunteer

With a new cohort of Master Gardener Volunteers finishing their training, we’d like to introduce them (AND YOU!) to the group of MGVs who have sustained this program for the last several years. First off, meet Ken Kogut!

Can you remember the moment you decided to become a gardener, or when you realized you had become one?

I grew up in a gardening family. I have many memories of gardening as a child. I also grew up in a farming extended family and all my relatives were gardeners, so I guess you can say that gardening is in my DNA. My first garden as an adult began after purchasing my first home outside of Saranac Lake in 1983.  My wife thought I was crazy when I presented my primary new home requirement as a place where I could garden. Gardening in Saranac Lake is not easy; I quickly learned that I could get a frost every month of the year! Cool season gardening takes a lot of work and a willingness to really temper your expectations of what you can successfully grow.Ken, enjoying the great outdoors

What benefits do you gain from gardening?

A great question! There are so many positive things I get from gardening. First and foremost is the wonderful food my garden supplies nearly year round. My goal every year is to produce enough food so that we can be (somewhat) self-sufficient. Through canning, freezing, and cold storage of produce, we have now pretty much reached self-sufficiency. It gives my wife and me great pleasure to sit down for a meal and realize that nearly the entire meal has come from our property… But food is just one of many things that my garden contributes. Self-sufficiency, pride, peace of mind, relaxation, escape from the endless news cycle we live in, and the beauty of watching things grow are some of the other benefits my garden provides. Finally, gardening makes me feel in touch with the natural world around me and nature’s annual rhythm.  

Why did you want to become a Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV)?

Being a Master Gardener Volunteer has allowed me to serve the public on a topic that I love to discuss.  Public service was always a part of my career as an employee of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. After my retirement, becoming a volunteer to work with the gardening community was a way for me to give back after an enjoyable 34 year career. Read more Meet Ken Kogut, Master Gardener Volunteer